OXFORD, Ohio — The Western Michigan University hockey team left Steve Cady Arena Saturday night with a sour taste after being swept by Miami of Ohio and limited to one goal in two games.

One Bronco thought it was pretty sweet — not a current Bronco, a former one.

Miami associate head coach Brent Brekke, a former WMU player (1990-94), was passed over for the Broncos head coaching job each of the past two years. Brekke is now in his second season as right-hand man for the RedHawks' head honcho, Enrico Blasi.

“'Rico and I played against each other when he was at Miami and I was at Western the same four years. I've known him for a long time, competed against him,” Brekke said.

“He's great to work with — he's an awesome coach and his accomplishments speak for themselves in the 13 years that he's been here. It's fun to come to work every day.

“Right from the get-go, he's been great as far as lots of opportunities and introduction to different things. You can speak your mind or voice your opinion. … If you feel like you have something to say or something you want to comment on, you have free rein. He really empowers us as a staff. He really empowers everybody around him. He's a great leader.”

Brekke was one of three finalists for the vacant WMU coaching position two years ago before Jeff Blashill was hired. At one time during the Broncos coaching search last summer, which resulted in Andy Murray's hiring, WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said Brekke was not a “formal candidate.”

Brekke does not seem to foster hard feelings — not outwardly, as least. He still has warm thoughts toward WMU. But once it's game time, all those feelings are put on ice.

“You shut that off. I think you probably (reminisce) more ahead of time leading up to the game during the week and stuff,” Brekke said.

Pat Ferschweiler

“Obviously, Fersch (WMU assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler) and I were roommates in college and we lived together at Western and played junior hockey and all that, so I've known Fersch for a really long time. That's always pretty special to play against your old team. But, yeah, at game time it's just not something you think about or pregame leading up to it.”

During his senior season at WMU in 1993-94, Brekke, who played under Bill Wilkinson, became the first Bronco in program history to be unanimously voted captain by his teammates. The Broncos were 24-13-3 that season, when they advanced to the CCHA Tournament semifinals and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Brekke, in his 13th season as a collegiate assistant (nine years with Cornell), is considered a defensive specialist. He must have liked what he saw from his RedHawks this weekend, when they allowed only one goal Friday and on Saturday handed WMU its first shutout since March 5, 2010.

Miami (14-10-2, 10-8-2-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association), which has won five of its last six games, is now tied for second in the league standings with WMU (12-9-5, 9-6-3-3).

“Both games were great. It was a little different from night to night,” he said. “ … Both teams were competing up and down the ice.”

Brekke said he still likes to see the Broncos have success. He'd prefer it not come against Miami, however.

“The success has been great to see. I'm really happy for them, especially when you see Fersch be a part of that … to come back to that as a former player, it's pretty cool,” Brekke said.

“The camaraderie is the thing you remember (about playing at WMU). We had a bunch of guys there, we had a couple of years that were very successful and we had a close-knit team. As we tell our guys here (at Miami) as well, 'These four years, you never forget. They're the best times of your life, playing college hockey.' The college experience is pretty special. Those are lifelong friendships … it was fun. I had a lot of fun.”